There are various techniques used for manufacturing plastic parts. The choice of either is dependent on the production volumes, materials used, and the design of the plastic part that you wish to manufacture.
Here are popular techniques and the applications they are best suited for.
Injection Moulding
Injection moulding is one of the most popular methods for manufacturing plastic parts. It involves injecting molten plastic into a mould cavity before letting it cool and solidify to the desired shape.
The advantage of the method is the high speed of production, the ability to produce complex shapes and excellent repeatability. The method also favours large-volume production.
You can use the method to produce consumer electronics parts, automotive parts and medical devices.
Thermoforming
Thermoforming is a technique where the manufacturer heats a plastic sheet until it is pliable and then shapes it over a mould using a vacuum, mechanical force or pressure.
The advantage of the method is that it has low tooling costs and quick turnaround times. It is suitable for large parts and supports moderate production volumes.
You can use the technique to manufacture automotive panels, refrigerator liners and packaging boxes.
Rotational Moulding
Rotational molding involves heating a hollow mould that is filled with powdered plastic resin. Then, the mould is rotated on multiple axes to allow the material to coat the interior of the mould.
It is a cost-effective method for producing hollow, large containers and parts that should not have seams. Rotational moulding is best used for making containers, storage tanks, outdoor furniture and storage containers.
3D Printing
3D printing is the newest entrant in the plastic manufacturing industry. The additive manufacturing technique builds plastic parts layer by layer using a digital model. It uses design techniques like stereolithography (SLA) and fused deposition modelling (FDM).
This technique is ideal for creating custom parts and rapid prototyping. It also allows for the manufacture of parts that involve complex geometries or require flexibility in their design.
Items that are commonly 3D printed include prototypes, aerospace components and custom parts for one-off projects.
The best techniques of plastic part manufacture vary according to the desired part and other requirements. Where a part can be manufactured by more than one method, costs and desired production volumes determine the best choice.
For example; rotational moulding is a cheap and convenient method for a plastic tanks manufacturer, even if blowing can do a similar task.